Can Anyone tell us what has been done to make sure our votes won't be

[babsbunny]

stolen next month? Time is running out. I still feel hopeless. :shrug:

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. My state is actively working to make votes easier to steal

Starting next year, Washington is going to all mail-in voting, stripping away the last vestage of oversight to the election process and trusting our elective franchise to *gulp* the United States Post Office twice, once to send the ballot to us and once to receive it.

You won't have to vote by mail, though. You can always drive -- in some cases, over a hundred miles -- to a "regional voting center" where Diebold touch-screens will be happy to disenfranchise you.

[Greyhound]

4. That sucks huge, but quit bagging on the USPS. Even after the last

six years of purposely trying to kill it, it is the envy of the world, and how many things are left here that we can say that about?

[AtLiberty]

2. babsbunny --

If you're worried, jump in to make sure something gets done...

Join a local or state group on election reform. We need an army. Check out:

www.votetrustusa.org

[babsbunny]

6. I have doing virtual phone banks for America votes

but that doesn't tell me if my vote will be counted this November.

[Common Sense Party]

3. Agreed. I'm not sure why people are cheering this Foley scandal.

Yeah, the Rethugs are in meltdown.

So what?

They still have Diebold.

The exit polls will be wrong again.

[leftofthedial]

5. nothing

it's gotten worse since 2004.

[kansasblue]

7. We need your help... Go to...

Velvetrevolution.us or bradblog.com. Both groups are taking donations for an election day fund to support lawyers to fight fraud.

Come on!

[leveymg]

8. File an absentee ballot NOW, if you're worried about it.

At least you'll know the absentee ballot will be hand-counted, and can be audited.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Alaska Democrats have our Division of Elections

in court. I hope they get everything sorted out before next time.

[elocs]

10. Since 2000 I believe the irony is that elections have become

easier to rig. The widespread use of electronic voting machines just give Republicans another weapon in their theft of votes. It is important for Democratic candidates to gain control of the local and state offices that have a direct impact upon voting and the voting process. I realize that hindsight is 20/20, but what if Harris and Blackwell had been Democrats?

[pa28]

11. There are things individuals can do.

As bad as it seems and as easy as it might be to get discouraged I hope we do our best to document vote suppression at the polling places and vote switching on Diebold machines. (I realize some or most of it may not be visible to the voter.)

If I lived in Florida, Ohio, Georgia or any number of states where this has happened in the past I would bring my digital video to the polls.

It's unfortunate our leaders have not been further in front of this issue but we can add to the body of evidence.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. Feeling hopeless is useless

We have four weeks left to make a difference and nothing should stand in the way of us doing whatever we can to make a difference now. If you can figure out a way to help ensure a more fair vote where you live during that time span, by all means go for it. If not, and you are among the many of us who believe that Republicans can and will try to steal votes from us, then work to make any attempted theft stand out like a very sore thumb. How? By creating a powerful tide of inevitability for Democratic victories on the ground in the mind of the electorate. The more voters who are individually called by Democratic volunteers working for our candidates, the stronger that perception will take hold. The more neighbors, friends, family members, and coworkers that the average American personally knows, who decide that this time they are changing their vote from Republican to Democratic this year, the more implausible a Republican victory will seem in light of all the documented security flaws that have been found in our voting systems.

And if none of what I said connects for you, then tell you what. There is still time for you to read up about several outstanding Democratic candidates who are opposing Republican incumbents in New York for Congressional Seats this year. There is no evoting in New York, we are using the same old mechanical voting machines we have had for generations this November. We can pick up three or four Democratic Seats in New York State alone if we work hard enough at it. Personally I am most familiar with the campaigns of Eric Massa and John Hall, and I am doing volunteer work for both of them. Wherever you might be, you can donate money to candidates in New York and other states that are not subject to suspect voting technology. In many cases, you can directly help their campaigns by blogging or making phone calls from home. We simply can not afford to feel hopeless.